10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 1
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 56,795 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
The contact owns a 2002 Kia Sportage 4X4. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle the odor of gasoline was emitted from the vents. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis where they advised her that the O-rings failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired for the O-rings. The manufacturer was contacted and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 21,000. The current mileage was approximately 39,000. Updated 03/20/13 updated 03/29/2013
- Warninster, PA, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that gasoline fumes were emitted into the vehicle through the vents. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel tank module was corroded and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not recalled. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 62,000 and current mileage was 63,473.
- Laporte, IN, USA
Fuel spill at wawa gas station. Recently my son fueled my 2002 Kia Sportage as I went in wawa; he didn't know fuel problem tried to fill the tank with that auto fill clip (where don't have hold) gas pump. Gallons of fuel spit, spilled in wide area pump other patrons avoided the area. Neighboring gas pumps had people on cell and smokers car were start up moving out with exhaust pipe in the direction of the spill. My son and his clothing was saturated with gas. This problem with the gas spilling and spitting several feet out of the gas tank is getting worst. The constant fuel vapors are causing me health problems. Anywhere I pump gas gasoline spills, everyone looks at me; I try to carefully to put the minimal taking 10-15minutes but cannot avoid spills. I'm retired can't afford another car and paid over $3800 in engine light, fuel repairs recently filed a complaint with the BBB. This problem is documented I have brought it to mieneke and local Kia dealer who keep wrong parts replacing parts at my expense. The local Kia dealer told me it recall is only the 2005 Kia I checked internet and in fact it is the Kia 2005 Sportage:05V212000, auto recalls.justia.com/Kia/Sportage/2005/05V212000/index.html my 2002 Kia has the same problem and Kia must do the right thing and fix this hazard free under recall immediately.
- Petersburg, VA, USA
My daughter just purchased 2002 Kia Sportage with 105164 miles on it. It was purchased during the day and test drove during the day when weather was warmer approx 50 degrees or higher. It has turned cold the day after purchasing and now high temp is 24 degrees. Have noticed a strong gas smell coming from inside of car. She started it to warm it up this morning before leaving and noticed the strong gas smell when she started to leave. Does anyone know what might be causing this. Had mechanic check car before we bought and everything checked out fine. Now she is almost afraid to drive due to gas smell.
- Oneida, TN, USA
Like other complaints that I am seeing, I have a 2002 Kia Sportage with 68000 miles and it is having severe problems with fuel vapors in the passenger compartment. I have taken the vehicle to the mechanic and they are unable to find a source for the fuel smell. The vapors are extremely strong and I get very nauseous; I have to open a back window so I do not get a migraine headache. I live in Wisconsin so it is very cold in the winter time to do this with the open windows but I cannot drive the car any other way. I would appreciate if the NHTSA would look further into investigating this problem and make Kia issue a safety recall and repair... I am the original owner of the vehicle and besides the 4 wheel drive breaking once, and this horrible gas smell I have not had many problems with this car.
- West Allis, WI, USA
My 2002 Kia Sportage especially in cold weather leaks gas vapors thru the vents, enough to give my wife migraines and nausea, it might even be a hazards if you smoke in the car. They should definitely do a recall to fix this problem before someone shows up with a cancer or a car explodes. We are about to buy another car cause we are concern about our newborn and fuel vapors not a good mix.
- Newark, NJ, USA
Like other complaints that I am seeing, we have a 2002 Kia Sportage with 69000 miles and are having severe problems with raw fuel vapors in the passenger compartment upon start up and sitting still. I am a mechanic and have searched for an active fuel leak, but can not find one.. the vapors are extremely strong and I am sure present a fire or explosion hazard (especially if someone is smoking).. I highly encourage the NHTSA to investigate this problem and make Kia issue a safety recall and repair...
- Hamilton, MO, USA
Gas smell coming from the engine. Leaking from a rubber hose the is over the metal gas line that is held right with a hose clamp.
- South Milwaukee , WI, USA
I bought my 2002 Kia Sportage brand new. The past few years I had noticed a gas smell and tried to ignore it. And ever so often when I pump gas it shoots back out everywhere. It happens mostly in cold weather.
- Louisville, KY, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that while attempting to add fuel to her vehicle, the gasoline would spill out. The headlights were also dim, making it impossible to see at night. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified and the vehicle was not repaired. The current mileage was approximately 123,000 and the failure mileage was unknown.
- Manchester, NH, USA
My 2002 Kia Sportage began leaking gasoline from above the gas tank by the fuel pump the mileage on the car is about 106,000. I had a mechanic look at it and he told me that the gas wasn't even getting up into the fuel pump it was spraying out at the top of one of T he parts he named, this was keeping my vehicle from even starting, and I now know that this was a common occurrence in Kia Sportages starting with the 2001 model.
- Chicago, IL, USA
This 2002 Kia Sportage in the winter time has a very strong smell of raw fuel. To the point you have to roll down the windows. Looking online can see this is a common problem. Smelling raw gas can not be good for you. Seems that is common to the clamps used on the fuel lines. All Kia mechanics know of the problem and will be happy to fix it for there regular fees. This is unacceptable and should be recalled and fixed at manufacturers expense because of sub standard parts.
- Kannapolis, NC, USA
After filling gas tank 1 week before, started noticing strong odor of gasoline inside the vehicle as well as outside of it. Had friend look at it, there was no discernible leaks, just extremely strong gas smell. Smell is so strong it makes people nauseous, light headed, has given me migraine headache. Cannot ride in car without windows down. This is predominately noticed with the cold weather sets in, below 40 degrees. This is definitely a safety/health hazard. Found many complaints online of same problem. This needs to be recalled and fixed by Kia as it is most definitely a manufacturing problem. Cannot seem to find what is causing this, it is probably the same problem that the 2005 Sportage recall states. I am terrified that it is going to cause a fire and I am going to get seriously hurt. Please do something. I am disabled on a fixed income and cannot afford to keep just changing thing until we finally, if ever, locate the problem. This is a extremely serious and potentially dangerous problem. It must be addressed before someone is injured or killed. I did notice that it appeared to have been half-heartedly looked into previously, please take this seriously. There are many of these on the road and it needs to be recalled.
- Washington, MO, USA
I recently filed a complaint on a 2002 Kia Sportage, for a fuel leak condition from gastank area, (plastic fitting), my daughter has recently advised me she has been having trouble filling the gastank and smelling an odor of fuel on occasions and bad fuel mileage. Apparently, when pumping fuel, the fuel will blow back out on her, if not pumped slowly! seems to be another issue with this certain vehicle"????? vehicle also has an intermittent chk engine light coming on?? code # po13A?? another safety concern! ???????"
- Naples, FL, USA
My daughter owns a 2002 Kia Sportage that recently broke down due to a fuel leak on top of the gastank. Car was towed to the nearest repair facility. Turns out a plastic nozzle had cracked off the high pressure fuel supply line coming out of the gastank itself resulting in pumping fuel everywhere! luckily, vehicle didn't catch on fire! part was finally replaced 4th time back to repair facility, but was replaced with the same plastic nozzle instead of a metal nozzle"this is my safety concern with this vehicle, afraid the samething will eventually happen again. Had the vehicle caught on fire, my 17yr old daughter would probably not had enough time to exit the vehicle, due to the amount of fuel underneath it" not sure if this is a common problem with this vehicle, but I feel this situation should be addressed as a safety concern.
- Naples, FL, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Kia Sportage. The contact stated that whenever he would attempt to fill the fuel tank, gasoline would begin to spew out of the fuel tank. The contact also noticed that when using the air conditioner the engine would exhibit a loud roaring noise. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The current and failure mileage was 150,000.
- Sugarland, TX, USA
Purchased a 2002 Kia Sportage from a used car dealer on march3,2010 after a week or so noticed a very strong gas odor no drips or puddling under car called to wagner Kia a local dealer and was told this is known problem with this vehicle and would cost about $500 to take care of the O ring and fuel line. If this is a known problem why is it not being taken care of by Kia.
- Rochdale, MA, USA
Prior, at 97K the rear was making noise. Brought to dealer, they said rear needs to be replaced. Because I had no receipts from a garage stating the oil was replaced, it was not covered under warranty. Dealer wanted to charge $900. To replace rear and axle. Part changers.had rear rebuilt $400. Radiator was replaced at 100K. After over years, cooling fan was replaced under recall. Vacuum hub was replaced to manual. Fuel smell, was rubber return line from fuel psi regulator to metal return line leaking. Kept up on all maintenance since new, a reliable car with original engine and transmission, at 222K.
- Croton Falls, NY, USA
I purchased my 2002 Kia Sportage in 2003 & it was almost 2 years before I started having a problem putting gas in my gas tank, I have to pump the gas very slow & even then the gas spurts back out & gets on my car, cloths, etc., it takes a very long time to fill my gas tank, it seems that this problem occurs more often in the winter, but it has happened in the summer as well, I have just now in the last week been having a problem with smelling a strong gas smell in my Kia just after I start going, I am going to go to the Kia dealership to see if they have any intentions of fixing this problem since it appears there are alot of 2002 Kia owners with the same problem, it doesn't take much to figure out that this is a manufacturer's defect.
- Cohutta, GA, USA
- Purcellville, VA, USA